South Tyneside

South Tyneside's population decreased by about 4,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Tyneside fell by 3.1%, from almost 153,000 to 148,000.

The loss of almost 5,000 people means this area's population was the most rapidly-declining in the North East and was the third most rapidly-declining across England.

In 2011, South Tyneside was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Tyneside

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Tyneside increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This area had the third-highest average age in the North East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,400 people between the ages of 50 and 59 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 6,000.

About 14.0% of people in South Tyneside are aged between 50 and 59 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and South Tyneside by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Tyneside

South Tyneside saw the North East's largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (88.7%) in South Tyneside reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 89.6% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.2% to 5.0%.

Across the region, Sunderland saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 88.7% in 2001 to 88.2% in 2011).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Tyneside that rented privately increased from 4.9% to 10.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.6%) households lived in social housing, compared with 37.6% in 2001. The percentage of South Tyneside households that owned their home increased from 55.9% to 57.1%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 13.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in South Tyneside increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Tyneside, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

South Tyneside saw the North East's largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Tyneside said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11.7% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.4% to 2.4%.

Across the region, County Durham saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people working long hours (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 10.6% to 8.4%.

Long hour working in South Tyneside decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Tyneside, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

South Tyneside saw the North East's joint largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, alongside Sunderland.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) in South Tyneside reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.7% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.8%.

During this period, South Tyneside overtook Gateshead and Middlesbrough to become the North East local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in South Tyneside remained close to 3.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and South Tyneside by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

South Tyneside saw the North East's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.5%) households in South Tyneside had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.2% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 58.2% to 60.6%.

Across the region, only Sunderland (from 31.3% to 28.1%) and Redcar and Cleveland (from 31.0% to 28.2%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with children.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of households with children, as the regional average fell from 29.8% to 27.9%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Tyneside

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in South Tyneside was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.8 points.

In 2011, 22.4% of respondents in South Tyneside gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 9.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.8% to 24.9%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in South Tyneside, 74.6% said they were Christian, compared with 88.4% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.0% to 6.2%.

In South Tyneside, 5.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.4% in 2001. In North East, 6.1% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in South Tyneside increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North East and South Tyneside by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Tyneside residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12.6% to 8.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75.8%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63.9% in 2001. The percentage of South Tyneside residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.5% to 16.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12.0% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Tyneside decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Tyneside, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in South Tyneside, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.9% to 8.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.9%) households had only one person, compared with 32.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in South Tyneside which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 33.8% to 29.9%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 7.8% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in South Tyneside increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Tyneside, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in South Tyneside that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.8% to 13.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (43.9%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 49.0% in 2001. The percentage of single people in South Tyneside increased from 28.9% to 34.2%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.9% in 2001 to 12.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of South Tyneside residents that were self-employed increased from 4.3% to 5.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 47.9% in 2001. The percentage of South Tyneside residents that were unemployed increased from 6.3% to 6.6%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 5.3% in 2001 to 6.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in South Tyneside increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in South Tyneside, the North East and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links